Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Norway is a maritime country and thus Norwegian government places special importance on the field of marine engineering. In particular, CeSOS (Center for Ships and Ocean Structures) in NTNU was established as one of the most important research areas in the strategic 10-year program in Norway. This CeSOS has been attracting many capable researchers and students, gathering not only from Norway but also from all over the world; thus it is called “research center of the world”. The director of this CeSOS and the leader in the structural mechanics is Prof. Torgeir Moan, the leader in the hydrodynamics is Prof. Odd Faltinsen, and the leader in the underwater technology is Prof. Carl Martin Larsen. They are all internationally acclaimed authorities in their professional fields, and each professor received many renowned awards and has directed so far more than 50 PhD students.
Ecole Centrale de Nantes (ECN)
ECN is one of the five Ecole Centrales in France, which is esteemed as the highest educational institute in science and technology. The research group of hydrodynamics and ocean engineering led by Prof. Pierre Ferrant is certainly of top-level in the world in the research on wave-body interactions by means of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) techniques. Recently Prof. David Touze in the same research group is also recognized as a leading expert of the so-called particle method (SPH method) applicable to strongly nonlinear fluid-body interaction problems. Moreover, ECN has a large experimental fluid basin with high-level equipment, and more than 20 PhD students are studying in the group of Prof. Ferrant, which is of very good research circumstance for stimulative interaction among capable younger researchers. Recently the Faculty of Engineering of Osaka University concluded a formal academic exchange agreement with ECN.
